Box  wrapping machine



Oct. 29, 1929. H. a. KLEINSMITH ET AL 1,733,229

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BOX WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 51. 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Oct{ 29, 1929-H. B. KLEINSMITH ET AL BOX 'WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1927 10Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Oct. 29, 1929" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQHORACE B. KLEINSMITH, FRANK RODGERS NEELY, AND FRED 1V. DOLL, OF ALLEN-TOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO A, H. BALLIET CORPORATION, OF ALLEN-TOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA BOX-WRAPPING MACHINEApplication filed May 31, 1927. Serial No. 195,535.

Our invention relates to mechanism for wrapping cigar boxes.

A purpose of our invention is to provide mechanism adapted to a moreefficient, more easy and less expensive application of wraps to cigarboxes than has hitherto been possible.

A further purpose is to register the bottom of a cigar box with a designupon the outside of a glued box wrap while the wrap is on a beltconveyor to a wrapping machine and above a light beneath the conveyor.In order to avoid having the belt become gradually opaque to the lightby reason of gradually accumulating glue from the glue machine wepreferably isolate the section of conveyor above the light from theportion of the conveyor that receives the wrap from the glue machine.

A further purpose is to roll a glued wrap fastener to the bottom of acigar box part way up one side of the box preparatory to placing the boxupon the form of a wrapping machine for side wrapping and preferablywhile the wrap is still upon a belt conveyor to the wrapping machine.

A further purpose is to slit the turned-up ends of the long sideportions of a wrap along the inside of the droplid ends by means ofknives rigidly fastened to corner-lap plate holders, preferably slittingupwardly and simultaneously from the four corners before corner-lappingand before turning in the portions of the wrap projecting above thedroplid ends.

A further purpose is to mount mechanism for slitting a wrap adjacent thedroplid ends of a cigar box and mechanism for turning in the portion ofa wrap in front of the drop lid end upon a corner-lap plate support.

A further purpose is to use a corner-lap plate and a cooperating springto obtain sharp creases between the turned-in portions of the long sidesabove the droplid ends and he corner-laps thereof said creases extendingupwardly and inwardly from the outer corners of the droplid ends.

A further purpose is to spring-press the tops of the side of a wrapalong the top edges of the ends during corner-lapping.

A further purpose is to mount a side turnin member upon spring hingesadapting it to yield upwardly and spring-pressing it downwardly duringthe turn-in operation at the long sides.

A further purpose is to mount spring plungers at the ends of a sideturn-in member, using the plungers to maintain the turnedup wrap pressedagainst the upwardly pro- "cc-ting droplid ends during the operation ofcooperating end turn-in rolls over the droplid ends.

A further purpose is to make a roll turnin over the ends of a cigar box,preferably spring-pressing the roll downwardly upon individual hingesduring turn in so as to a apt the roll to easy accommodation tovariation in box form.

A further purpose is to roll down the turnin laps upon the inside of abox preferably making the rear roll operate to substantially the ends ofthe box, the end rolls operate from the front of the box to the rearroll and the front roll operate from one end roll to the other.

l/Ve spring-press the rolls outwardly so that they are pushed inward andresiliently press out-ward while they roll the turn-in laps down insidethe box.

A further purpose is to expand the end portions of the turned downturn-in laps, that are above the sides of the box, outwardly against theends of the box after the rolls have rolled downward, thus pressing theportions of the turn-in lap that cannot be reached by the rollsoutwardly against the inside of the box. lVe support the outwardpressure by external sresser blocks in order to avoid danger ofrupturing the box.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

\Vhile our invention is well adapted to use with wrapping machines ofwidely variant type, we have elected to show it embodied upon a Stokes &Smith type of machine in that it is well adapted to this machine andmakes unnecessary detailed description of many parts that are inthemselves not part of our present invention. The embodiment shown isconvenient and eflicient in operation and illustrates particularly wellthe principles involved.

Figures 1 and 2 are fragmentary top plan and front elevation views ofconveyor mechanism embodying some portions of our invention.

Figure 3 is a broken perspective view of structure shown in Figures 1and 2 and additional linkage for operating a roll shown also in theearlier figures and used for anton'iaticaily applying the wraps part wayupon the backs of the boxes while still on the conveyor of the wrappingmachine.

Figure at is a fragmentary side view illustrating the support of theroll shown in Fig ures 1 to 3.

Figure?) is a broken front elevation of a wrapping machine embodying ourinvention and showing a portion of the conveyor mechanism of Figures 1and 2, the last section however of the conveyor being removed todisclose 1110Cl1t11l$l11 of the wrapping machine.

Figures 6 to 9 show the upper half of a split form that embodiesimportant features of our invention, the views being respectively topplan, bottom plan and end and front elevations.

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 show a modification of the structureillustrated in Figures 6 to 9 and are respectively top plan, bottom plansection on line 1212 of F igure 10 and front elevation of themodification.

Figure 141 is a perspective view of the bottom half of a split form usedin cooperation with the structure shown in Figures 6 to 9 and with veryslight modification with the structure shown in Figures 10 to 13.

Figures 15 and 16 are perspective views of slitting mechanism andmechanism for simultaneously corner-lapping and for effecting turn-in atthe sides over the droplid ends. The figures illustrate importantfeatures of our invention.

Figure 17 is a broken detail showing a box upon, its form and operatingmechanism, the position being that immediately following corner-lapping,the front roll, front brush and front corner-lap mechanism being removedto show the box.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through thebox, and operating mechanism. during turn-in, the box having moved downto its second position of rest leaving the upper form raised above thebox.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevation of the structure ofFigure 1.8 but taken after the upper form has moved down to lap down theinwardly projecting turn-in laps of the wrap into the box, the positionbeing that of expanding the turned down laps against the droplid endsabove the sides.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of one of the side turn-ins.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary end View illustrating the box passing betweenthe front and rear brushes and rolls, while sweeping the wrap up thefront and rear sides of the box.

Figure is fragmentary end elevation, part in section, showing a box andslitting, corner-lap, and droplid turn-in mechanisi'n, the position ofthe parts being the same as in Figure 1'4".

Figure 23 is an end section of mechanism shown in Figure 18, theposition of parts being the same as in Figure 18.

Figure 24 is an end sectional view correspon ding to Figure 23, exceptthat the upper form has moved down and is entering the box to lap downthe turn-in laps of the wrap into the box.

Figure 25 is an end view in part section of Figure 19 showing the partsin the same position, which is that of pressing the four ends of the endturn-in laps against the inside of the droplid ends.

Figure 26 is a vertical section upon the line 26-26 of Figure 20 showingone of the side turn-ins.

Figure 27 is a perspective view of one of the end turn-ins.

Figure 28 is a vertical section taken upon the line 28-28 of Figure 27,but showing some structure omitted in Figure 27.

Figure 29 is a fragmentary perspective view of structure shown in Figure19 illustrating mechanism applying the turned down turn-in laps to thedroplid ends at and above the long sides.

Figures 30 to are broken perspective views illustrating successivephases of the wrap with respect to the box.

Figure 36 shows a top plan view of a convenient form of wrap before ithas been ap plied to a box.

Figure 37 is a diagrammatic chart illustrating the preferred cycle ofoperations.

Figure 38 to are small scale views (partly diagrammatic) showing the boxand principal operating parts at the principal positions of the cycle.

Figures 38, 39 and 40 show the preliminary roller pasting the back of awrap part way up the rear side of the box before the box has beenremoved from the conveyer to be placed by hand upon the form of thewrapping machine, the views being respectively perspective and end andfront elevations.

Figures 41, 42 and 43 are corresponding views showing the front and backrollers applying the long sides of the wrap to the box, the views beingrespectively perspective, sectional end elevation and rear elevation.

Figures 4: 1, 15 and 46 show the mechanism for slitting the side wrapsat the droplid ends, lapping the ends and turning in the front and rearsides over the droplid ends, the views being respectively perspectiveand end and front elevations.

Figures 47, 48 and 49 show the operation of the lower rollers andbrushes, the views being respectively perspective and end and frontelevations.

Figures 50, 51 and 52 show the operation of the side and end turn-ins,the views being respectively a perspective view and front and endsectional elevations.

Figures 53, 54 and 55 are corresponding perspective, sectional endelevation and front elevation views and show the operation of theexpandin mechanism and pressure blocks for applying the turn-in laps tothe inside of the droplid ends at the sides.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to thedrawings General hag oat The general layout is shown in Figures 1 to 3and 5. Figures 1 to 3 show conveying mechanism which is normallyoperated by the mechanism feeding wraps to a glue machine, not shown,but that is preferably in turn controlled by or synchronized to theoperation of the wrapping machine (Figure 5). The feed cylinder of aglue machine, for example, is suitably connected to make one rotationfor each reciprocation of the box form on the wrapping machine, each ofthese latter reciprocations completing the wrapping cycle for one box. 7

Neither the glue machine nor its feed mechanism nor the operatingcontrol thereof from the wrapping machine is shown, not being inthemselves part of the present invention which is directed to noveloperations and mechanisms to be embodied partly in a conveyer and partlyin a Wrapping machine at the delivery end of the conveyer. Theillustrations of the conveyer and wrapping machine with which we showour invention embodied are intended as a conventional illustration forany conveyer and any wrapping machine to which our invention is adaptedto be applied.

The conveyer and the registry and the rolling stations thereof The beltconveyer receives the wraps 71 from a suitable glue machine not shownand moves forward with intermittent steps that are of the same lengthand of a length that is predetermined and usuallyadjustable.

Each time that the box wrapping machine 72 completes its wrapping cyclea new wrap is delivered glue side up from the glue machine to the beltconveyer and the conveyer makes one of its forward movements advancingthe wraps already on the conveyer toward the wrapping machine.

The successive wraps are thus spaced glue side up along the conveyer atuniform intervals between the glue and wrapping machines and come torest successively at the same definite positions or stations between thetwo machines.

We register the bottom of the boxes to the glued surfaces of thesuccessive wraps at one of these stations and at a later station rollthe rearwardly projecting portions of the wraps part way up the backs ofthe boxes. For this purpose the belt must be relatively offset anddesirably narrow.

Atthe registry station we support a transparent plate 73, preferablyglass, beneath the belt of the conveyer and place a strong light 74beneath the plate, the plate and light being both carried upon a framestructure 75, that is in turn carried by and preferably adjustable alongside rails 76 of the conveyor.

The upper surface of the glass is even with the upper surface of theframe, the two surfaces presenting a firm horizontal support to thebottom of the belt conveyer so that the belt may present firmevensupport to the successive wraps during the application of the boxes andthe frame and glass should be high enough to insure a section of fiatbelt over the whole surface of the glass.

The wraps preferably carry a heavy printed line 77 for registryaroundthe bottom edges of the boxes and as they successively come torest glue side up over the glass, the lines 77 are made visible by thelight and used by an operator who places the boxes so that the outeredges of the bottom register with the lines 77.

It is old to register a box upon a glued wrap while the wrap is lyingupon a glass plate with a light beneath the plate, Hitherto however thishas been done after the wrap hasbeen removed from its belt conveyer andwe avoid a removal from the conveyer by passing the conveyer over theglass making the light sufficiently strong to shine through the materialof the conveyer and making the conveyer of material that'will permitthis. lVe have found that a strong light will satisfactorily shinethrough a conveyer of canvas or like material if the conveyer isreasonably free from glue, but that such material usually becomesgradually opaque to the light if it becomes coated with glue.

The conveyer shown comprises three sections connected to operate as aunit, connected by sprockets 7 8 and chains 79. The first section 80receives the successive wraps from a glue machine not shown. In practicewe have found that the belt 80 becomes gradually coated with glue byreason of glue dropping from wrap stripping mechanism at the gluemachine and that this glue coating makes the conveyer become graduallyopaque. It can be cleaned at intervals by wire brushes so as to be fullyoperative for registration over the light but we have found it moredesirable to register upon a belt 81 which is free from glue.

This is accomplished by making the conveyer in sections, the belts ofadjoining sections passing over horizontal parallel rolls 83 and 83 thatkeep the adjoining belts 80 and 81 from touching yet are sutl'icientlyclose to avoid danger of any of the wraps failing to pass from sectionto section.

The second belt 81 receives the wraps from the first and brings themsuccessively to rest over the light and registry plate 73 where anoperator places the boxes upon the glued surfaces of the successivewraps in registry with the illumined bottom edge lines 77.

Succeeding forward movements of the conveyers bring the box and wrap torest on the third belt 81 (the narrowest belt) at a roll 8% :t'orrolling the rearwardly extending portion 85 of the wrap part way up thebottom of the box.

The light can be placed under the main belt, but with some sacrifices inclearness as indicated.

In order to support the wrap between belts we show a tape which runswith the series of bolts i. e. over all of them.

In the position upon belt 81 the box and r wrap are supported frommaterial bodily movment under the rolling action by supporting members86 and 86 respectively above and in front of the box at the rollingstation. The purpose of this preliminary rolling is to prevent the backof the wrap from hanging down and possibly catching upon the top of theblock of the wrapping machine, when the operator places the box upon theform for wrap ping as explained later.

The roll ea is carried by a combined guide and bearing 87 having bearingbrackets 87 extending upwardly from a horizontal supporting member 87.The latter member is ad apted to slide up and down on the horizontallyspaced vertical rods 88 each time a box and wrap are brought to positionin front of the roll 84.

The bearing brackets 87 are pivoted at 89 to opposite ends or thesupporting member 87 and are spring-pressed at 90 toward the box, to anextent limited by screw stops 91 on the member 87. These stops are usedfor setting the initial alinement or the roll. Until the box comes torest the roll is lower than the bottom line of the wrap and box.

The guide rods 88 depend from a bracket 92 rigidly fastened to the sideof the wrapping machine 79 and desirably extended laterally to supportthe adjacent end of the intermediate section of the conveyer.

The sup iorting member 87 is preferably linked to reciprocate under theaction of a rocking member 93 of the wrapping machine, thatsinmltaneously effects the rear corner lapping of a box in the wrappingmachine.

In Figure 3 the rocking lever 98 of the wrapping machine reciprocates arearwardly extending link 94 to reciprocate the cornerlap mechanism, andat the same time reciprocates the rearwardly extending link 95, rockermember 96, forwardly extending link 97 and bell crank 98 to reciprocatethe roll supporting member 87.

The rocker members 98, 96 and 98 turn respectively in fixed bearings 99,100 and 101, fastened to the wrapping machine.

The operating connection from the roll 8% to the rocker shaft operatingthe rear corner laps is particularly advantageous in that it places theoperating linkage entirely out of the way of an operator in front 01 thewrapping machine and at the same time obtains proper synchronism betweenthe reciproca tions of the roll 8% and the wrapping machine. The shaftportion of the rocker 93 is rocked by a T member 102 pivoted at 103 andhaving an operating connection with. a cam groove 10% around a drum 105of the wrapping machine (Figure 5).

It will be noted that the belt 81 is narrow enough and so placed withrespect to the rear line of the box as to permit the roll 8% to roll upthe back of the box. Registering at a position earlier than that atwhich the rollingup takes places requires an extra operator but permitsmore rapid operation.

The members 86 and 86 that support the box from moving during theinitial rolling are chamfered at 106 and 107 respectively to permit easyentrance of the successive boxes. The member 86 is carried upon suitablebrackets 108.

Features of the invention shown on tiheet 1 (Figures 1 to 1) includemechanism for facilitating registration of the boxes upon the wrapswhile they are still on a belt conveyer from the glue machine, aconstruction protecting the conveyor from becoming gradually opaque atthe registry station from glue from the glue machine by the use of asectional conveyor, automatic mechanism for apalying the wraps part wayup the backs of the oxes before they are to be transferred by operatorsto the wrapping machine and the operation 01 the roll, by which thewraps are applied, from the rocker lever which operates the corner-lapmovement at the wrapping machine, preferably using the rocker furthestaway from the operator in order to be least in the way of the operator.

lVmppa'ng machine The wrapping machine with which our invention isembodied is shown in Figure 5 which is a broken elevation partly insection and with many parts removed from the operators side of themachine. The eonveyer sec tion 81 of Figures 1, 2 and 3, at which thewrap is given a preliminary rolling up the back of the box, is not shownbecause it would extend across and partially hide the operatingmechanism of the wrapping machine. The delivery station 109 of Figures 1and 2 of the conveyer (not shown in Figure 5), is preferably in front ofthe vertically reciproeating box form of the wrapping machine.

In the wrapping machine a driving pulley 111 mounted upon a shaft 112 isdriven continuously in any suitable way and has clutch connection at113with a sleeve 114 surrounding the drive shaft and carrying a worm 115 incontinuous mesh with the worm gear 116 shown upon the lower end of thecam shaft 117. i

All of the wrapping movements of the machine are operated through themedium of cams upon this cam shaft which also controls the feed of wrapsto the glue machine as al ready explained, and reciprocates the roll 84for fastening the wraps part way up the boxes before delivery from theconveyor. The machine shown is of well-known type and is adapted tooperate upon paper boxes as well as upon cigar boxes.

A split form 110 is mounted with a lower portion 118 carried upon aplunger 119 and an upper portion 120 carried upon a plunger 121. Both ofthese plungers adapted to reciprocate vertically being guided in asuitable stationary guide portion 122 of the frame of the machine. Theplunger 119 carrying the lower form is positioned. vertically by a camgroove 123 around a drum 124 upon the upper end of the cam shaft, bymeans of roller 125 upon a rocking lever 126 and link 127 between thelever 126 and the plunger. The lever 126 is pivoted at 128 in a suitablefixed bearing 129.

The plunger 121 carrying the upper form comprises vertical rods 130which slide through perforations in a flange 131 at the lower end of theplunger 119, are suitably guided in the stationary frame structure andare connected together at the top by a head 132. A tension spring 133between the head and an anchor 134 upon the lower plunger spring-pressesthe plungers to bring the upper forms together, so that verticalreciproca tion of the plunger carrying the lower form will effect acorresponding vertical reciprocation of the other plunger as long asthis other plunger is free to move.

Vertical stripper rods 135 are adjustably mounted upon a lower yokemember 136 which is carried upon the lower ends of vertically slidablerods 137 guided at 133 and 139 to vertical movement only. The stripperrods have universal adjustment and are set to operate vertically in andout of suitable vertical perforations 140 in the upper and lowerportions of the split form.

The rods 137 are connected at the top by an upper yoke 141 andvertically positioned by a cam 142 around the drum 124 in cooperationwith roller 143, rocker lever 144 and link 145 between the lower yoke136 and the rocker lever 144.

The head 132 connecting the rods 130 that support the upper form 120carries a downwardly extending and vertically adjustable stop rod 146.

The lower end of this rod 146 engages the top of lever 144 at oneportion of the downward movement of the plunger 119 carrying he lowerform, thereby causing separation of the upper and lower forms againstthe action of the spring 133. The upper form thus moves in response toany movement of the lever 144 and therefore with the strippers 135 whenthe stop rod 146 and lever 144 are in engagement and at other timesmoves in response to the vertical movements of the lower form.

The box 147 having a wrap 71 fastened to its bottom and turned part wayup the back of the box to prevent its catching upon the block 148 of thewrapping machine is applied to the form while the two portions aretogether, an operator pushing the box upwardly so that the form fits theinside of the box. After this has been done an operator starts the downward movement of the form at a treadle 149 which permits clutchengagement at 113 starting rotation of the cam shaft 117 and the cycleof wrapping operations.

The block 148 being a well known standard part of the wrapping machineis shown in fragment only. When the form is in its upper and receivingposition the block is sufficiently beneath the form to be out of the waywhen putting a box on the form. The block is resiiiently pressedupwardly toward its upper position by a spring 150 and presents an upperface registering with the bottom of the box during the successivewrapping operations, tightly pressing the wrap to the bottom of the boxthroughout these operations, moving down as the form moves down andsubsequently rising as the form rises until the block again reaches itsupper position where it comes against a suitable stop and ceases tofollow the form upwardly the form contin' uing upwardly after thewrapping cycle has been completed to its receiving position.

In its downward travel with box and wrap in place the form brings'thebottom of the box sharply against the block 148 pushing the blockdownwardly ahead of it against the action of the spring 150, and carriesthe box between the front and rear brushes 151 and then between thefront and rear rolls 152, which sweep and roll the front and rearprojections of the wrap up the front and rear sides of the box. The formand box then come to rest, both portions of the box form being insidethe box and filling the box.

hen the box has come to rest the cornerlap mechanism moves in from frontand rear respectively lapping over the projecting ends of the turned upsides across the ends of the box, after which the form and box againtravel downward between end brushes 153 and between end rollers 154which sweep and roll up the'end portions of the wrap over the ends oi?the box (only one end brush and one end roll being shown in theillustration to come to rest again somewhat below the end rolls tor theturn-in operation.

Before the box form comes thus to rest preparatory to the tur.ninoperation the upper portion of the form has separated from the lowerportion by reason of engagement between the stop rod 146 and the top ofthe lever 1 1 1 so that when the boxes have come to rest the second timepreparatory to turn-in the upper form is out oi? the way above the box.

'lurn-in members now move inwardly and a gain outwardly over therespective sides and ends to turn the upwardly projecting ends of thewraps in over the top of the box, the reciprocation of the turn-insbeing effected by a rocker lever 155, linked at 156 to a sleeve member1-57 having four radially extended arms 158, one upon each side 01 thebox, each arm carrying a vertiral rod. 159 connected by a suitable link160 to a bell crank 161 for reciprocating the turn-in mechanism (Figures5, 18, 19, 2 1 and After the turn-in operation has been completed theupper form moves down into the box to turn the inwardly projecting endsof the wrap down into the box.

The box form carrying the wrapped box then moves up, the upper and lowerterms being together and inside the box, until at one point of thelip-stroke the bottom of the box is engaged by the downwardly directedlower ends of the stripper rods. These rods are usually stationaryduring stripping, the forms moving up as a unit while the box is heldback and pushed off by the stationary rods on to the felt covered blockwhich has followed the forms up to its initial position and then stoppedwhile the forms are still travelimz; upwardly. Normally the box isstripped from the forms alter the felt block has again reached itsinitial position with the bottom of the box at this position during);the stripping process. After the stripping is complete the strippersmove up out of th way and a springejector flies over and knocks .xhe boxaway from the machine.

The procedure at the wrapping machine of Figure 5 is old, as thus fardescribed, as applied to paper boxes. The wrappingmachine pm'tion of ourinvention is intended partieularly to apply to cigar box wrapping andis. directed to mechanism mounted. upon the corner-lap plate holders toeffect turn-in and slitting! oi the droplid ends simulta neously withthe corner-lapping. It is also directed to a novel form of turn-inmembers, to mechanism upon the upper form for effecting); the turn-downof the wrap into the box after the operation of the turn-ins, and alsoto cooperating mechanism upon the upper form and upon the presser blockholders tor eli'ective turn-down at the droplid ends of the box. abovethe en ges of the front and rear sides. In the prior art presser membersupon each side of the box move in against the box when the upper formhas moved down into the box to turn the inwardly projecting ends of thewrap down into the box, their function being to press the sides inwardlyupon the turned down wrap portions while the latter are held out by theupper form.

\Ve normally dispense with these pressers of the prior art, finding themusually unnecessary when wrapping cigar boxes, but find some movingportions of the old pressers aii'ord convenient mountings for novelconstructions cooperating with new expanding mechanism of the upperform, as mentioned above and described later.

Zower form: (Figures 5, 14, 1'7, 18, 25, 2,4

and

The lower form 118 fits the inside of the box and against the bottom ofthe box and remains in place against the bottom of the box from the timethat the box and wrap have beenput on the form by an operator until thebox is removed by the strippers. lit is carried upon a spur 163 which isreceived in suitable recess in the plunger 119 being held to place inany suitable way as by a set screw 16%. This spur is usually of circularsection. The spur is provided with av flange or plate 165 at its lowerend by which it is fastened securely to the lower form, the .t'orm beingusually wood. The form is perforated at 1 10 to pass the stripper rodsand is suitably recessed at 166 to provide clearance for parts of theupper form.

The upper corners and edges of" the form are chamfered oil at 167 toe'tl'ect a more easy disengagement from the turned down port-ions of thewrap during stripping and to lessen any danger of the turned downportions oi. the wrap being displaced from the inside of the box duringstripping tearing loose.

Upper form Modifications of the upper form are shown respectively inFigures 6 to 9 and Figures 10 to 13. It is perforated at 168 to pass thesupporting spur 163 of the lower form and comprises a metal plate 16.),roller mechanism 170 and expansion mechanism 171.

The plate 169 is fastened by screws 172 to the lower end plate 173 ofthe plunger 121 and overlaps the tops of the long; sides of the boxbetween the droplid ends. Lough tudinally it is suitably somewhatshorter than the distance between the droplid ends 174': of the box andcarries the end expansion members 175 on its upper side that preferablyhook over the ends of the plate at 176 ant. are spaced so that theirouter edges before expansion lie somewhat baclr ot the droplid ends ofthe boxes.

The ends of the plate 169 and the hook portions 176 of the expansionmembers are normally sufficiently back from the droplid ends to be outof the way of slitting knives 225 (described later) that we mount uponthe corner-lap plate holders. These knives move in between the droplipends and the members 176 to upwardly slit the up-turned long side flapsat the droplid ends preparatory to corner lapping and turning-in thelong side flaps at the droplid ends.

The four roller members, one for each side, are carried upon the lowerside of the plate and are spring-pressed outward toward po sitionsbeyond the inside lines of the box, being forced back somewhat againstthe action of their respective springs whenever a box is put to placeover the form. They assist in supporting the inside of the box duringthe turning up of the sides and ends of the wrap and subsequently serveto roll down the turn-in portions of the wrap into the box.

The rollers conveniently comprise sections of rubber tubing 177 overmetal rods 178 that turn in suitably spaced bearings 179 springpressedoutwardly to the desired positions.

In the construction shown in Figures 6 to 9 these bearings compriseinclined rocker members 180 pivotally supported at 181 upon metal cornermembers 182 fastened to the lower side of the plate 169. Each cornermember gives bearing support for two of the rocker members and isperforated at 150 to pass the strippers.

There are thus two rocker members upon each side of the form, supportingthe roll of that side, and extending diagonally upward from the pivots181 to the roll and shown with diagonally inwardly extending arms 183 totension springs 184 that are stretched between the inner ends of thearms and suitable cross bar anchors 185 above the plate, which is shownwith perforations 186 to pass the springs.

The outward movement of the rockers is limited by suitable stops whichmay comprise suitable lugs upon the corner members 182 in position toengage the inwardly extending arms of the rocker members when the rollsare in their'desired outer positions.

Mounting the bearings of the rolls upon rocker members that extenddiagonal ly downward beneath the plate 169 gives an upper form that isrelatively thick in a downward direction beneath the plate 169.

This is not at all disadvantageous when the form is used with full depthcigar boxes. \"Vhen wrapping half depth boxes however it is desirable tohave a shallower form and in this event we may extend the rocker membersdiagonally upward to pivot supports above the plate or as illustrated inFigures 10 to 13 mount the bearings upon horizontal plunger rods 188operating in a suitably shallow guiding member 189 and spring-pressedoutward at 190 to suitable screw stops 191. Most of the expansionmechanism above the plate 169 is not shown in Figures 10 to 13 which areintended to illustrate merely the plunger type of support for the rollsbeneath the plate.

Normally the rocker type of roll support is preferable to the plungertype in that the rockers wear better than the plungers.

The distance between the outside surfaces of rolls upon opposite sidesof the box is normally greater than the corresponding inside dimensionof the box so that when the form is inserted in a box the rolls aredeflected inwardly against the action of the respective springs.

The rolls at the back of the box are desirably provided with endsections 192 that extend outwardly to fit against the ends of the box.This is particularly desirable when a form of wrap is used that is cutaway at an intermediate portion 193, Figure 36. This recessed wrapleaves an uncovered space on the back of the box for a hinge member andleaves relatively short turn-in sections 19 1 adjacent the ends.

In view of the shortness of these wrap sections to be turned down insidethe box at the back it becomes increasingly important that the turningdown operation should be such as to insure close contact bet-ween theseportions and the inside surface of the box; otherwise they are likely tocome loose. The turn down portion 195 of the Wrap at the front of thebox is normally the full length of the box and it is of relativelylesser importance to obtain perfect contact between the inside front ofthe box and the wrap adjacent the respective front corners than at theshort sections 194 at the back corners. As it is de sirable to roll toplace the turned down portions 196 of the wrap on the ends of the box weprefer 'to make the end rolls extend forwardly at 197 to the front lineof the box and for this reason the end sections 198 of the roll for thefront of the box are shown shorter than "the corresponding sections 192of the back roll and end sulliciently inward from the end lines of thebox to pass the end rolls at 197.

The expanding mechanism 171 above the plate 169 functions withcooperating external mechanism to press the turned down wrap into thedroplid corners of the box. These corners are inside the droplid ends 171 and above the front and rear sides of the box and the expandingmechanism about to be de scribed has greatly improved the finish andcommercial appearance of the wrapped box.

Expansion members 175 adapted to relative expansion and contraction aremounted on the opposite ends of the plate 169. They are spring-retractedat 199 toward relative contract-ion, are turned down at 176 over theedge of the plate 169 to provide bearing engagement to the bottom of thedroplid corners and are adapted to be relatively expanded by theoperation of bell crank rockers 200.

The levers 200 are pivoted at 201 to the plate and have one armpivotally connected at 202 to a cross similar link 203 that is connectedat its ends by links 20 i and 205 to spaced portions of the expansionmember. The other arm of the lever is provided with a forwardlyprojecting lug 206 near the middle of the front of the box. These leversare counterparts as best seen in Figure 6. The extension is ell'ected byengagement between a presser member 207 Figures 19, 23 and 25 and thelugs 206, the force of expansion being supported upon the outside of thebox by felt covered blocks 20S operated by the same mechanism whichoperates the turnins, see Figures 5, 18 and 19.

The expansion members are suitably limited to rectilinear movements,each member being shown slotted toward opposite ends at 205) to passguiding posts 210 mounted in the plate.

The mechanism for pushing the lugs 206 and for supporting the expansionforce against the inside of the droplid ends at the opposite sides ofthe box is described later in greater detail. The rolls and expansionmechanism of the upper form are all new and very useful in making thewrapping more effective and of better appearance.

The rolls and expansion mechanism are shown in Figures 5, 15, 16 and 22.They are associated with corner-lap mechanism of the prior art, andcomprises additions to the former corner-lap units. There are four ofthese units 211 one at each corner of the box for corner lapping and forslitting and turning in the long sides at the droplid end. The units areadj ustably mounted upon the corner-lap plate holder bars 212 of theprior art which operate respectively in front and back of the box,Figin'e 5.

The bars 212 are rigidly fastened to blocks 213 each of which tiestogether the inner ends of longitudinally slidable outwardly extendinghorizontal rods 21% and 215. These rods are connected to a common yokenear their outer ends, which in turn has suitable link connection 9-1 torocker members 93 (Figr 3 i and 5), which are in turn linked to therocker 102 operated by the cam 104. This mechanism for moving the mountsof the units 211 need not be shown in detail, being well-known mechanismof the type of machine illustrated.

These units 211 are adjustable to different positions along the bars 212in order to accommodate the units to boxes of different In the prior artthe corner-lap plates 216 are removably fastened at 217 to a hingemember 21.8 that is pivotally mounted upon a pintle post 220 on abracket member 221 and is spring-pressed at 222 to a suitable stop uponthe bracket to maintain the desired alinement for resilientcorner-lapping. The bracket member 221 carries the unit and ispreferably adjustable along the bar 212.

We make the pintle post 220 rigid with the bracket 221, extend it abovethe hinge memher, and rigidly fasten an arm 223 upon the extendedportion 224- of the post and. in alinement with the box ends.

Upon the inside of the arm we mount a slitting knife 225 having anupwardly directed cutting edge alined to slit the upturned portions ofthe long sides adjacent the droplid ends when the units move inwardpreparatory to corner lapping. The point 22? of the knife is alined withthe box corner between the droplid end and long side. On top of the armwe fasten a presser spring 228 shown held to place by a screw 229. Thisspring aiined with a box end and curves around the forward end of thearm 22?) extending back under the arm at 0. They serve as turn-inmembers for the portions f the turned up long sides that are at thedroplid enc s.

The knife preferably extends sufficiently ahead of the rward edge 231 ofthe cornen lap plate and beyond the spring 228 to effect the slittingbefore corner lapping and spring turnin operators.

The corner-lap plate preferably upwardly overlaps the lower portion ofthe spring and he arm 223, which may, if desired, serve as the stop tolimit the closing movement of the lap plate and to determine its initialalinement.

The units 211 at opposite ends of the bars 212 are opposite counterpartsand, therefore, are not interchangeable upon the same bar although theunits on one bar are interchangeable with the units on the otherprovided that the right-hand unit of one bar is made the left-hand unitof the other and vice versa.

The slitting operation takes place prefer ably before thecorner-lapping, the points of the two knives striking the turned up longside laps at the inside corners of the droplid ends.

As soon as the slitting is complete, or optionally somewhat before thistime, the corner-lap plates lap over the projecting ends of the wrap andthe presser springs turn in the upwardly projecting portions of thewraps at the droplid ends down on to the droplid ends.

The turn-in of the short sections above the droplid ends and thecorner-lapping at the ends is preferably simultaneous, the corner-lapplates desirably closing against the outer sides of the presser springsas well as engaging the faces of the box. As a result there is a sharpcrease 232 made hetween the corner-lap ends and the, turn-in sectionabovet'he droplid ends. This crease is best seen in Figure 32 whichshows a fragment ofbox and partially folded Wrap after the slitting,corner-lap and droplid end turn-in mechanism has moved in, theEnechanism itself not being shown in this gure;

, Structurally the new features added to the corner-lap mechanism of theprior art include the slitting knife, droplid end turnin spring andsupporting arm all rigidly fastened to the bracket member 221,preferably fastened upon the extended end of the pintle 220 which isthen rigidly fastened to the bracket.

The units move in to the corners of the box from front and rear whilethe box is temporarily at rest, slitting, turning in over the droplidends and corner lapping on the way in. The lower form then carries thebox down while the units 211 are still at their inward position, the lapplates 216 wipingup the laps of the wrap as the box 'moves down betweenthe end brushes 153 T urn-ins.

With the box at rest and the upper form out of the way above the box,the side turnins move in and out at the sides and the end turn-ins inand out at the ends to turnin the upwardly projecting portions of thewrap over the sides and ends of the box.

In the prior art these turn-ins have been rigid plates mounted to movetogether in and out across the tops of the sides but'appreciably abovethe box edges so to carry the paper in as distinguished from pressingthe paper down against the fiat edges.

We have found it advantageous to mount the turn-in plates upon springhinges to be deflected upwardly slightly during the turnin operation andalso find it more desirable to roll the paper in as at the ends, ascompared with the wiping movement of the plate used for the long sidesbecause of the limited height available there.

Our long side turn-ins are best seen in Figures 20, 23, 25 and 26. lVehinge the turn-in plate upon a plate holder 234 using spring hinges 235that normally press the turn-in plate to its seat 236 on the holder.

The holder fits upon a block 237 guided to rectilinear movement byhorizontal supporting rods 238 and operated (Figure 5) from the camgroove239, roller 240, rocker 155, central sleeve 157, vertical'arm159., link 160, rocker 161 and link- 241. It is desirably fastened tothe block by a single screw 242.

The holder 234 is'an' integral member interlocking with its supportingblock 237 and vertically recessed at each end at 236 to form flat seatsfor outwardly projecting portions 243 of the turn-in plate; The plateclears the intermediate portion 244 of the holder and is of length'tofit between the droplid ends of the box. I

We mount spring. plungers 245 at the ends of the plate. These plungerspresent faces 246" against the ends of the droplid ends during theturn-in operation of the plate 233, firmly'holding the turned upportions of the wrap to pl'aceagainst these ends until the turn-inoperation is over, which preventsloosening of the wrap at these ends asthe turn-in is withdrawn and insures"per' fect gluing contact at thesesmall end'surfaces.

Guide rods 247 of the plungers' operate in casings 248 that may beintegral with holder 284 or fastened to it as'a't 249K The plungers arespring-pressed forwardly" at 250 to present the forward faces 246 oft heplungers to the forward edge 251' of the turn-in plate except whenpressed back during the turn-in.

The novel features upon the long side turnins include spring hingin-gthe turn-in plate to its holder so that the plate is deflected upwardlyagainst spring action during the turn-in operation, and mounting springplungers at the ends of the plate to hold the wrap firmly to place overthe droplid ends during the turn in operation.

The endturn-ins are best seen in Figures 27, 28, 18 and 19, and eachcomprises a roll 252 having end journals 253 support-ed in bearingmembers 254 that are pivoted at 255 to the opposite endsof aturn-inholder 256. The bearings are individually pressed to pin seats 25? ofthe holder by fiat springs'258 fastened to the holder, the roll252be'ing deflected upwardly slightly during the turn-in, against thesprings 258'.

The advantage of having the bearings thus relatively movable verticallylies in that they exactly accomn'iodate theroll' to the top of the boxirrespective of any small variations of initial alinement between thetops of the boxes and the roll.

The spring plungers 245 at the'ends of the side turn-ins cooperate withthe end turn-ins to hold the small portion of paper previously cut sothat it will not be disturbed by the end turn-ins in order thus tosecure exact folding on top of the droplid ends-and to'a-lesser extentcooperate-with the side turn' ins for perfect wrapping adjacent theslits at the droplid ends.

The end'tur'n-in holder fits upon-a-block 259 generally'similar to theblocks 237 3 of the long side turn-ins, carries horizontal supportingand guiding rods 260 and is operated from the central sleeve 157,vertical arm 159, link 160 rocker 261 and a lin; 262 to the block 259(Figures 5, 18 and 19) similar to the rocker 161 and link 2 11 of thelong side turnins.

Novel features in the end turn-ins include the use of a roll to effectturn-in, spring hinging the turn-in member to its holder, and making theopposite ends of the end turn-in members relatively vertically movablefor accommodation to variant box alinements.

After the turn-in operations have been completed the turnin members moveback out of the way and the upper form now in position above the boxdescends into the box to effect turning down the inwardly projectingends of the wrap on to the inside surface of the box.

The rolls (Figures 7 to 9) mounted along the sides of the forms upon thebottom of the plate 169 normally project slightly beyond the insidelines of the box and are forced inwardly as the rolls enter the boxresiliently pressing the inwardly projecting ends of the wrap againstthe inside surfaces of the box.

The expansion members 17 5 upon the top of the plate 169, shown inFigures 6, 8 and 9, are provided with slightly projecting end portions176 as already described, adapted to be pushed outwardly into thedroplid corners above the long sides by pressing the lugs 206 presentedby the rocker members 200.

\Ve effect this expansion by engagement between the projecting end 263of a presser or push member 207, (Figures 19, 23 and 25), and the lugs206 of the rocker members 200.

As the ends of the expansion members engage the inner surfaces of thedroplid ends felt covered supporting blocks 208 (Figures 18, 19, 53 andmore in and engage the outside of the box at the respective droplid endsopposite to the engaging ends of the expansion members in order tosupport the pressure exerted by the expansion members upon the inside.

Both the push member 207 operating the expansion members and thesupporting blocks 208 externally supporting the outward expansionpressure as well as all four turnins are operated by the verticalreciprocation of the central sleeve 157 throughthe operz tion of therocking lever 155 and cam 239 (Figure The push member (Figures 23 and25) is operated by the reciprocation of a vertical rod opposite one ofthe long sides of the box, this rod being one of the rods 159 rigidlysupported by the arms 158 of the central sleeve 157, and operating asalready described.

. l lm lnno' side turn-ins (Fi ures 20. Q?) and gether by the head 237carrying the long side turn-in and having a knuckle connection 265 withthe link 2 11 to the bell crank 161 (already described) rocked. by thevertical reciprocation of the central sleeve 157 (Figure 5 The pushmember 207 is mounted upon a vertical arm 266 that is supported betweena pair of horizontally spaced and longitudinally slidable rods 267, ofwhich only one is visible in the figures.

The inner ends of these rods rigidly e0n nect with a block 26 thatpresents on its outer side a cam lug 269 against a cam 270 upon the hubof the rocker member 161.

The rods 260 are spring-pressed at 271 to position away from the box tomaintain engagement between the cooperating cam members 269 and 270.

During the turn-in operation the vertical rods 159 move upwardly from anintermediate position and then downwardly to a low position. During theupward movement the long side turn-ins 272 and short side turn-ins 273move inwardly over the respective sides of the box to effect theturn-in, and during the downward movement of the rod 159 the turn-insmove back out of the way.

. t the beginning of this downward movement the upper form 120 thensuspended above the box and above the turn-ins, moves down. on to therolls of the end turn-ins, and moves quickly into the box under theaction of gravity and of the spring 133 when these rolls move out fromunder, the inwardly projecting ends of the wrap being rolled downwardlyagainst the inside surface of the box during this entry of the upperform into the box.

The end rolls resiliently press the end turnin flaps down upon the topsof the droplid ends while rolling inwardly. They roll in- \vardlysomewhat beyond the inner edges of the droplid ends and springingdownwardly when they pass the inner edges crease the wrap along the respctive inner edges. This creasing is preferably greatly accentu ated bythe descent of the upper form, the end rolls on the bottom of the upperform at this time coming down and stopping against the turn-in rollswhich are then pressed downward by the weight of the upper form as wellas by their own downwardly pressed springs.

The downward movement of the rod 159 continues beyond that requisite tomove the turn-ins back to their initial position and during thiscontinued downward movement engagements between the cooperating camsurfaces 269 and 270 forces the block 268 inwardly toward the box,thereby moving the

